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Our feline companions are fierce hunters (which you know if you’ve ever been brought a dead mouse). And if you’ve ever watched your cat when they’re gone on a hunting expedition, you might have wondered how exactly they knew that a mouse or a bug was nearby.
And if cats can find mice and bugs, does that mean our pets can also detect other animals, such as snakes? After all, if you have outdoor cats, it would be quite helpful if they could sense when a snake was slithering about.
Well, cats can detect snakes as well as other animals using their fine senses that pick up on motion, sound, and scent. Let’s get into more detail on how they can do it!
How Do Cats Sense Snakes?
There are several ways our felines are able to pick up when a snake or another animal is around—scent, sound, motion, and a cat’s natural hyperawareness.
1. Scent
Cats have an incredible sense of smell; where humans have roughly 5 million receptors in the nose to help us pick up scents, cats have anywhere from 45 to 80 million receptors! This ability to pick up on delicate scent is a huge asset in helping felines detect when a snake or another animal is nearby.
In particular, cats can smell secretions from a snake’s scent glands meant to repel predators. In a study to see how felines responded to these secretions, it was found that cats had a stronger response to the secretions than to skin that had been shed from a snake. This indicates these secretions are likely what a cat sniffs out that enables it to sense a snake. More research is needed, but these secretions may be what a cat sniffs out that enables them to pick up on a snake’s scent.
2. Sound
The ability to pick up on the finest of scents isn’t the only strong sense felines have. Our kitty friends also have an amazing sense of hearing! Whereas humans hear things in the 20 Hz–20 kHz range, cats are able to hear anything in the 48 Hz–85 kHz range. This ability makes it much easier for our cats to hear a snake as it is slithering through the grass, and then locate it.
3. Hyperawareness
Cats may be predators, but they’re aware of their environment, as there are larger predators than they out there. This means when they’re awake, they are very well aware and alert to what’s going on around them. Blame it on natural instincts passed down from their wild ancestors. It’s for this reason that your cat enjoys sitting on the highest object in the house so they can see everything around it and can occasionally be a bit jumpy.
This hyperawareness is crucial when outside because it enables your feline to see danger more easily—including sensing when another animal is nearby and whether it poses any threat.
Cats & Snake Bites
Felines and snakes are natural enemies (they are competing for similar food sources, after all) and ones that sometimes prey on each other. Though it’s more likely to find a cat stalking a snake than vice versa, it doesn’t mean that a snake won’t defend itself from a cat or attack first if it feels threatened. That could result in a snake bite for your pet.
What are the potential signs if a snake has bitten your cat? If your pet has gotten into a tangle with a snake and received a bite, you may see a variety of signs, depending on the snake, the amount and type of their venom:
- Agitation
- Meowing in pain
- Bleeding from the place that was bitten
- Breathing that is faster and shallower than normal
- Bruising and/or swelling around the bite
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Drooling
- Fang marks
- Wobbly gait
- Lethargy
- Limping if the bite is on the legs or paws
- Paralysis
- Seizures
If you believe your feline has been bitten by a snake (or saw that it was bitten by one), you should take it to the vet right away. And if you are unsure whether the snake is venomous, try to take a picture of it (or at least take a good enough look that you can give a good description to the vet).
If you have a question about your cat's health or behavior, why not Ask a Vet for Free with Catster. Our veterinary team answers reader questions and provides trusted advice to help you better understand your cat.
Final Thoughts
Cats can detect snakes when they are around! With a feline’s superior hearing and sense of smell, it’s easier for them to pick up on a snake’s movements even when you can’t see the snake. Your cat’s proneness to hyperawareness is also an asset in sensing snakes.
However, your cat might be tempted to hunt a snake down if they notice it, which could result in a snake bite. If that occurs, you’ll want to get your pet to a vet immediately and try to get a photo or a good look at the snake if you’re unsure what kind it is, so the vet can identify whether it’s venomous. This will enable your pet to receive proper treatment.
- Related Read: Do Cats Eat Snakes? Health Risks & Precautions
Featured Image Credit: SJ Duran, Shutterstock
